Siding construction



Sept. 23, 1958 K. LOCKWOOD 2,853,163

, SIDING CONSTRUCTION Filed Feb. 2, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I L/ogd c )5 T'TORNEYS Sept. 23, 1958 K. LOCKWOOD 2,853,163

I SIDING CONSTRUCTION Filed Feb. 2, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR- United States Patent SIDING CONSTRUCTION Lloyd K. Lockwood, Saginaw, Mich. Application February 2, 1953, Serial No. 334,443

22 Claims. (Cl. 189-86) This invention relates to siding or wall covering construction, and more particularly to interlocking sheet metal panels or weather boards, which when assembled in horizontally disposed, partially overlapping relation, constitute the outermost wall or surface of residentialor commercial buildings of all types.

As is well known, there are various types of metal siding panels or weather boards on the market, but these have not been entirely satisfactory in practice, since they are not under tension or are not under a properly controlledtension when assembled in position and are either too loose and create undue rattling and noiseduring wind and rain storms, or are under too great a tension and are dilficult to interlock during assembly.

One of the prime objects of my invention is to design a siding construction wherein the lower exposed, overlapping edge or butt of each panel is held in against the underjacent panel by a predetermined permanent tension which is imparted by'the nails securing the panel in position. The force of this permanent tension is, however, controlled by means other than the pressures exerted by the nails securing either of the panels, thus permitting the provision of suitable uniform hold-in pressures at the joints, which enable both the easy interlocking of the panels and insure a weather-proof joint connection.

A further object of my invention is to provide a siding construction wherein the exposed portions of the panels are under suflicient permanent tension so that they do not rattle in the wind and are relatively immune to the steady vibrations otherwise set up by rain, wind or hail, which cause excessive and annoying noise.

Another object of the invention is to design a siding construction wherein the upper edge of each panel is reinforced and formed to the contour of the overlapping exposed lower edge or butt of the superjacent panel to thus provide a butt of double material thickness which is virtually impossible to dent or otherwise damage.

A further object is to design a substantially concave panel of flexible sheet metal which hugs the backing structure underneath and tends to further flatten out upon the application of pressure so that the weight of a ladder or the like thereagainst will not permanently deform or locally dent or otherwise injure the panels.

A still further object of the invention is to design a siding construction wherein the lower edge of the superjacent panel positively hooks over the upper edge of the panel immediately thereunder and cannot be disengaged, and does so with a clearly audible snap so that the workman is aware that the superjacent panel is in properly aligned position, thus eliminating the employment of chalk lines on a structure which is in horizontal alignment. With this construction, proper alignment no longer depends on the skill of the workmen, and low wage workmen are fully able to apply the siding and are able to do a better job than highly skilled workmen have been doing with older type siding strips.

2,853,163 Patented Sept. 23, 1958 Another object of the invention is to design a siding construction wherein vertical tolerances can be provided in the interlocking arrangement without affecting the tension with which the interlocking portions are held together so that in an older house or building which is out of horizontal alignment, the relative horizontal positions of the siding panels can be adjusted during application to effectively disguise the misaligned condition of the house.

A further object of the invention is to design a weather board or panel of the type described, which is secured by nails which are driven in at approximately a 45 angle, thereby best securing the panel in position against the stresses which are placed upon it, the panel including aligned expansion openings in which the nails are centered to permit the metal panels to freely expand or contract with changes in temperature without buckling. Since the openings provided in the panel are properly vertically and horizontally spaced so that a nail extending therethrough does so at substantially a 45 angle, the workman in the process of nailing, is guided thereby and must nail at approximately the proper angle.

Another object of the invention is to design a flexible sheet metal weather panel, which can be tilted outwardly without becoming disengaged once the lower edge thereof is snapped into position and before the upper edge is nailed to enable the workman to inspect the upper edge of the underjacent panel or the rear face of the tilted panel.

A further object of the invention is to design a panel construction of the type described, wherein the securing or nailing means are protected from the elements, and denting of the nailing flange which is concealed, as by driving nails too deeply, does not affect the appearance of the panels. Further, such denting does not aflect the strength or alignment of the panels and cannot overtension the interlocking portions thereof.

A still further object of the invention is to design flexible sheet metal panels which are easy and economical to manufacture and assemble, and which further can be readily and economically individually replaced in a wall when damaged.

With the above and other objects in view, the present invention consists in the combination and arrangement of parts, hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that changes may be made in the form, size, proportion, and minor details of construction, without departing from the spirit, or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a front elevational view of a representative portion of my siding construction, portions of the one strip being broken away to expose the concealed interlocking portions of a pair of strips.

Fig. 2 is a sectional, end elevational view thereof taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing another embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 4 is an end elevational view of the embodiment of Fig. 3 with slight modifications.

Fig. 5 is a View similar to Fig. 2 illustrating the replacement of one of the panels shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary, sectional, end elevational view showing the panel of Fig. 2 with the hook on the locking flange thereof omitted.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary, sectional, end elevational view showing the panel of Fig. 2 with the spacer or control strips thereof formed in a slightly different manner.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary, sectional, end elevational view of the panel construction shown in Fig. 3, with weep holes provided therein and a circulation opening provided in the backing structure.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary, sectional, end elevational view of the panel construction of Fig. 3 interposed in a wood siding construction in place of one of the wood weather boards, weep openings being provided in the butt thereof and a circulation opening through the backing structure.

Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawings, the letter S generally indicates the backing structure on which the panels P are horizontally arranged in partially overlapping relation to form the outer. wall or surface of a building. The, immediate structure S to which the panels are applied usually comprises an insulating board of which there are. numerous commercial varieties, but it will be apparent that the panels could be applied to any suitableflat surface or. directly to the studding if desirable. Itis contemplated that the panels are to, be formed of aluminum sheet metal which is flexible, light in weight, and readily cuttable, but the panels could also, of course, be formed of other, suitable sheet metals or materials of similar, desirable properties.

A representative portion of one embodiment of my siding construction is depicted inFi-gs. l and 2, wherein an intermediate panel 10 is shown between an upper panel 11 and a lowermost or starter panel 12. With particular reference to the cross-sectional configuration of these individual panels as illustrated in Fig. 2, each panel 10 or 11' comprises a relatively shallow, concave body portion 13, the upper edge of which is bent obliquely as at 14, and is then turned downwardly and outwardly to form a nail bearing surface 15. The lower portion of the surface 15 is more sharply curved downwardly as at 15a, and the upper edge of the panel is thence directed inwardly as at 16 in a substantially horizontal plane, the portion 16 terminating in an upturned flange 17 adjacent the body 13. The lower edge or butt of the panel substantially conforms to the configuration of the portions 15a and 16, it being turned inwardly as at 18 and terminating in a flange 19 with an obliquely bent hook 2t? formed thereon. As clearly shown in Fig. 2, the butt of each superjacent panel fits over the panel immediately thereunder and is reinforcedthereby, the hook 20 locking over the flange 17; The butt of the panel is directed upwardly at a less sharp angle than the portion 15, however, and for a purpose to be presently described.

I'have found that a nail which is driven at an angle will more firmly secure the panel against the forces to which the panel will be subjected than one which is driven horizontally, and I therefore provide pairs of'vertically spaced, elongatedslots-Zl and 22in the portions 15 and 13 respectively to accommodate the nails 23 which are driven at substantially angles. The slots 21 and 22 are of greater-dimension than the nail shanks 23 to permit the panels to freely expand as a result of outside temperature changes. It will be noted that the slot 21 is substantially rectangular in shape and of limited height to permit the head of the nail to bear on the portion 15, and that the slots 22 are inversely T-shaped to allow for both vertical and horizontal expansion or movement. Since the butt of each panel is directed upwardly at a less acute angle than the nailing surface 15 of the panel therebelow, clearance is left therebetween for the nail heads which will never therefore wrinkle the exposed butt of the superjacent panel. While I prefer to drive nails at an angle, it will be apparent that I could provide slots 21 and 22 in horizontal alignment and drive the nails horizontally if I so desired.

Obviously, the nails 23 will rarely be driven in the same distance with the same amount of force and the force constantly exerted by the nails 23 tending to press in or tension the upper portion of the panel will therefore vary such that in many instances, unless tension controlling means is provided, it might be either extremely difiicult to force the hook 20 up into position, or the interlocking portions will not be tensioned at all. Therefore, I provide a plurality of horizontally spaced strips or spacers 24 of predetermined depth adjacent the slots 21 and 22 which can extend from either the portion 13 or the portion 15, substantially bridging the distance therebetween, and serve the dual purpose of not only controlling the distance which the portion 16 can be pressed inwardly and thereby the interstitial distance between the members 17 and 13, but also of additionally reinforcing the upper portion of the panel and thereby the exposed butt of the superjacent panel so that it is practically impossible to dent or otherwise damage. These spacers 24 are preferably formed when the T-shaped slots 22 are cut in the body of the panel 13, the cut-out portions being bent horizontally to form the spacers 24. Obviously, the spacers 24 could also be similarly formed when the slots 21 are cut in the surface 15 by bending the cut-out portions laterally or could be otherwise provided as desired.

It is very important to note that the panels are so designed that the interlocking portions of the panels are automatically placed under a constant and permanent tension. Thus, the. tensioned flange 17 will snap with an audible click when the flange 19 is pressed up into position so that the workman knows that the particular panel is in horizontally aligned position. The assembly of the instant panels can be very rapid and efficient in most construction, since it is not necessary to adjust the position of each panel with relation to a chalk line. In some old constructions which have settled out of horizontal alignment, it will be desirable to lay the siding according to the chalk lines since the relative position of the panels would need to be adjusted according to the tilt of the structure. The provision of a vertical tolerance between the height of the flanges 17 and 1921s indicated at A in Fig. 5, to permit a slight tilting adjustment of the panels relative to one another, if desirable, in no manner affects the stability of the locking arrangement or slackens the tension on the interlocking portions.

Since often it is necessary to support a ladder or scaffold on. a wall, it is desirable that the panels tend to flatten out or give somewhat without denting or distortingupon application of such a weight, and this flexibility is provided by the slots 22 (see Fig. l) which are disposed along and weaken the inner edge of the portion 14 and permit this portion to flatten out slightly, the upper leg 22a of theslot'being formed in the portion 14. As noted, the body portion 13. of the panels is concaved to hug the backing structure so that relatively little flattening need occur, but it is desirable that the interlocking portions also have some resiliency. When a. weight is placed against a panel, the tendency isalso to pull the panel down slightly, and since the'slots 22 are providedwith the legs 2211, the nailing arrangement is not affected.

The lowermost or starter panel 12 shown in Fig. 2, can be formed from one of the panels previously described, it being only'necessaryto cut'off the lower portion of the panel, or can be separately formed at the factory if desired.

If it should become necessary, it is a very simple matter to replace one of the panels, it being necessary merely to cut across the body portion 13 of the panel, preferably near the lower edge thereof asalong the line B (see Figs. 2 and 5), and to slide-the lower unnailed butt portion edgewise out of engagement with the interlocking portion of the underjacent panel. A new panel is then cut off at or near its upper edge at about the point indicated by the letter C (Figs. 2 and 5), and the butt portion thereof is interlocked with the underjacent panel, the upper edge indicated at Cbeing pushed up between the flange 17 and remaining portion 13 of the replaced panel to firmly secure it in position as shown in Fig. 5.

Various hook arrangements can be employed, and successful panels canbe built which omit the hook 20 as in Fig. 6 without varying the conceptsof the instant invention, since the hook 20 does not in any way have a bearing on the degree of tension which is placed upon the interlocking members.

In Fig. 7, essentially the panel depicted in Fig. 2 is shown, except that the spacers 24 shown in Figs. 1 and 2 are formed by bending the body portion 13 outwardly and thence inwardly in overlapping relation as at 24a to form a continuous spacer instead of bending the cut out portions of the slots 22 inwardly as in Fig. 2. In this panel, the cut-out portions of the slots 22 are, of course, completely punched out.

In Figs. 3 and 4, I have shown other tensioned locking arrangements which may be employed. In Fig. 3, which is similar to Fig. 2, I have shown a starter panel 27, an intermediate panel 28, .and a portion of the superjacent panel 29. With particular reference to the cross-sectional configuration of these panels, each panel 28 or 29 comprises a relatively shallow concave body portion 30, the upper edge of which is bent obliquely as at 31, and is then turned downwardly and outwardly to form a nail bearing surface 32. The lower portion of the surface 32 is more sharply curved downwardly as at 32a and the panel is thence turned inwardly as at 33 in a substantially horizontal plane, the portion 33 terminating in a combination locking and spacing flange which is turned obliquely outwardly as at 34, and thence curves inwardly in a substantially horizontal plane as at 35. In this panel construction, no spacers 24 need be provided, since the depth of the portion 35 controls the interstitial space between the inwardly directed portion 33 and body portion 30 and thereby the interlocking tension. The lower edge or butt of the panel substantially conforms to the configuration of the portions 32a and 33 as before, it being turned inwardly as at 36 and terminating in a beaded flange 37. The upper portion of each panel 32a reinforces the butt of the superjacent panel which curves upwardly at a less angle to provide clearance for the nails 38. Slots 39 and 40, identical to the slots 21 and 22 are formed in the surface 32 and along the inner edge of the obliquely turned portion 31 respectively to accommodate the nails 38 which are driven at substantially 45 angles. Any tendency to displace the portions 35 upwardly when a weight is applied to the butt of a panelis, of course, resisted by the nails 38.

In Fig. 4, I have shown a similar panel in which the obliquely turned portion 31 is eliminated and the nail bearing surface is flat as at 32b. 'Further, instead of a beaded flange 37 on the butt of the panel, a locking flange 41 which curves obliquely outwardly and thence inwardly is provided. This flange 41 which can be readily formed, and which is similarly designed to provide a clearly audible click or snap when it passes between the flange 34 and body portion 30, may be used in place of the beaded flange 37 as desired. This panel has also the nailing slots 3% and 40, of course, and the height of the flange 41 can be less than the height of the flange 3435 to provide a vertical tolerance and permit relative tilting of the panels.

In Fig. 8, aligned weep openings 4242 which are not visible from the outside are provided along the inner terminal edge of the portions 33 and 36 to prevent sweating in the wall of the building. When this particular form is employed, openings 43 are, of course, drilled at spaced intervals in the backing structure between the studding and communication is effected through the vertical portions or legs 40a of the T-slots 40 which are formed in the portion 31.

In Fig. 9, I have shown another modification in which a starter panel 27a and superjacent panel 28a with its interlocking portion cut off is used as a venting panel to replace a clapboard in an existing wood siding construction in which there is difficulty with moisture condensation. In this construction, a starter" panel 27 is provided with horizontally spaced weep openings 44 in the portion 39 and aligned openings 45 are provided in the butt portion 36 of the superjacent panel 28. When this embodiment is employed, openings 43 are, of course,

provided in the backing structure between the studs and tom of the wall with sutficient suitable openings drilled through the backing structure thereadjacent to assure ample air circulation and prevent sweating.

It will thus be seen that I have invented a vastly improved weather board panel which is very practical and oifers many advantages over and obviates many of the practical objections to present panel-s. Obviously, the panels described in this specification could also be used as a covering for roofs of various pitches where desirable.

It is to be understood that various equivalent constructions are to be interpreted as falling within the scope of the claims. For instance the upper edge 14, 15, 16 of each panel could be an independent section or clip mounted on the body portion of any of the panels P in any suitable manner.

What I claim is:

l. A siding panel unit adapted to be secured in partially overlapping relation with like units comprising a linearly extending strip, an upper edge for said strip extending outwardly and downwardly with relation to the body of the strip and thence turned inwardly toward the body of the strip, the inwardly turned portion terminating a spaced distance from the body of the strip, and substantially laterally disposed spacer means between said outwardly extending upper edge of the strip and body of the strip limiting the distance the inwardly turned portion of the upper edge of the strip can be pressed inwardly toward said strip to define a passage of predetermined width between said inwardly turned portion and the body of the strip, the lower edge of said strip being turned inwardly and having an upwardly turned flange on the free end thereof adapted to be secured between the inwardly turned portion of the upper edge of a like underjacent strip and the body portion of said underjacent strip.

2. The combination defined in claim 1 in which openings are provided in the downwardly turned portion of the upper edge of the strip, and openings downwardly spaced therefrom are provided in the body portion of the strip to permit the unit to be secured by means extending at an oblique angle with relation thereto.

3. The combination defined in claim 1 in which the upper edge of said strip is turned obliquely upwardly and outwardly before being turned downwardly and the metal is weakened along the edges of this obliquely turned portion to provide resiliency for the upper edge of the strip. 1

4. A siding panel construction adapted to be secured in horizontally disposed, partially overlapping relation with like units to form an outer wall comprising, a linearly extending strip having a housing provided on a side edge thereof, and spaced from the body portion of said strip to define a passage between the housing and the body of the strip, the opposite edge of said strip being turned inwardly to form a butt, a like formed second panel having a like passage, means on said butt portion of the first panel adapted to enter the passage of the second panel and be secured within the housing of the second panel, and spacer means in the housing of the second panel limiting the distance the latter housing can be pressed inwardly when nailed in position to control the width of the passage between said latter housing and the body portion of the second panel.

5. The combination as disclosed in claim 4 in which said spacer means is affixed to one side of said housing and substantially bridges said housing to control the re- 7 silient deformation to which the housing" can be subjected.

6; A siding panel unit adapted to be secured in horizontally disposed, partially overlapping relation with likeunits on a backing structure to form an outer wall comprising, a substantially concave strip, the upper edge of which is turned obliquely upwardly and outwardly, thence downwardly and outwardly, and thence inwardly toward'the body portion of said strip, the inwardly turned portion terminating adjacent said body portion and having an upturned flange thereon, horizontally spaced openings in said downwardly and outwardly turned portion andhorizontally spaced openings in the body of said strip spaced downwardly therefrom, the lower edge of said strip being turned inwardly and having an upturned flangewithan outwardly extending hook thereon on the free end thereof to hook over the flange on the upper edge of an underjacent strip when the-flange on the lower edge of said strip is pressed up between the flange of the upper edge of the 'underjacent unit and the body portion of'theunderjacent'unit, obliquely disposed securing means through said openings engaging the downwardly and outwardly turned portion of" the upper edge of the strip to place tension on the unit, strip means substantially bridging the downwardly and outwardly turned upper edge of the strip and the body portion of the strip to control the distance the inwardly turned portion of the upper edge of the strip can be pressed inwardly, said openings in the body of said strip being disposed along the inner terminal edges of the obliquely turned portion of the upper edge of the strip to weaken this portion and provide resilience when a weight is placed on the unit.

7. A siding panel unit adapted to be secured in horizontally disposed, partially overlapping relation with like units on a backing structure to form a' unitary surface comprising a linearly extending strip, the upper edge of which is turned downwardly at an angle with relation to the body of the strip and thence turned inwardly towardthe body of the strip, the inwardly turned portion terminatinga spaced distance from the body of the strip and having an upturned flange thereon in substantially parallel relation with respect to the body of the strip, the lower edge of said strip being turned inwardly and having an upwardly turned flange on the free end thereof, outwardly projecting hook means on the flange on the lower edge of the strip to hook over the flange on the upperedge of an underjacent strip when the lowermost flange is pressed upwardly between the uppermost flange and the body portion of the underjacent siding unit, and means for applying tension to the upper edge of the unit to press the upper edge of the unit toward the body'portion thereof.

8. The combination defined in claim 7 in which the lowermost flange is of greater height than the uppermost flange to provide a tolerance between the lowermost flange of one unit and the uppermost flange of a superjacent unit.

9. The combination defined in claim 7 in which means is provided to control the distance the inwardly turned portion of the upper edge of the strip can be pressed inwardly.

10. The combination defined in claim 9 in which said means comprises a plurality of spacers substantially bridging the downwardly turned portion of the upper end of the strip and the body portion thereof.

11. A sidingvconstruction adapted to be secured on a backing structure comprising a linearly extending panel having a body portion adapted to engage said backing structure, the upper edge of which is bent outwardly and thence downwardly at an angle with relation to the body portion, the upper edge of the strip thence being turned inwardly toward the body of the strip, the inwardly turned portion terminating a spaced distance from the body of the'strip and having-an upturned flange thereon, and'a' 83 superjacent'panel' having an' inwardly turned lower edge with an upwardly turned flange on the free end thereof havingan outwardly projecting portion thereon to retain said'superjacent panel in position when said flange on the superjacent panel'is-pressed up between the flange on the first-mentioned panel and the body portion thereof.

12. The combination defined in claim 10 in which aligned vent openings are provided through the inwardly turned' upper edge of the first-mentioned panel and through the inwardly turned lower edge of said superjacent panei.

13. The combination defined in claim 10 in which spacer means is provided to control the resilient deformation to which the upper edge of the strip can be subjected.

14. The combination defined in claim 10 in which the upturned flange on the first-mentioned panel is turned inwardly and the inwardly turned portion is of predetermineddepth to control the interstitial space between the inwardly turned'portion of the first-mentioned panel and the body portion thereof.

15. A siding panel construction comprising a linearly extending strip, an outwardly projecting member provided for one edge of said strip, said member including a portion turned reversely relative to said strip and thence inwardly toward said strip, the inwardly turned portion terminating a spaced distance from said strip, a substantially parallelly disposed, partially overlapping strip having a butt section on one edge thereof for accommodating said outwardly projecting member on the firstmentioned strip, the butt section including an inwardly turned portion with a flange thereof turned to extend sub stantially parallel to the first-mentioned strip, and spacer means on said first-mentioned strip limiting the distance the outwardly projecting member of said first-mentioned strip can be pressed inwardly toward said strip when it is nailed in position to permit the flange of said secondmentioned strip to pass therebetween.

16. The combination defined in claim 15 in which said inwardly turned portion of the outwardly projecting member of said first-mentioned strip terminates in a flange extending outwardly at an angle from said strip and thence inwardly toward said strip to space the member, and the flange on the butt section of said secondmcntioned strip is similarly turned outwardly relative to said second-mentioned strip and thence inwardly to mate with the flange on said first-mentioned strip.

17. In a siding construction adapted to be nailed or otherwise secured to a wall, a panel comprising a body section and a flexible, resilient attaching member on said body section outward thereof and overlying said body section deformable in toward said body section when nailing pressure is exerted upon it, a superjacent panel, said attaching section securing to the superjacent panel, said attaching section having openings therein and said body section also having openings therein transversely aligned with respect to said openings in the attaching section but downwardly spaced therefrom so that nails may be inserted through said openings at a downwardly inclined angle, and means on said attaching section connecting the lower end of the body section of the superjacent panel thereto, nails nailed at the said angle into said wall imposing a downward and inward pressure on said attaching section which is imparted to the superjacent panel because of the connection to hold the body portion of the latter panel in horizontal alignment with the panel belowit and the outer surface thereof no more than a predetermined distance outward of the adjacent outer surface of the body portion of the said panel below.

18. In a siding construction adapted to be secured to a wall surface, a linearly extending panel comprising a body section and an attaching section at the upper end of the body section overlying said body section, a like superjacent panel secured by the attaching section of said panel, said attaching section including a nailing section extending downwardly and outwardly at an angle relative to the body section of the panel and thence including a portion therebelow connecting said panel with the butt of the body portion of the superjacent panel, said nailing section having openings spaced linearly and said body portion of the panel having openings inward thereof and aligned therewith, but downwardly spaced therefrom so that nails may be driven through said openings into said wall surface at a downwardly inclined angle whereby to impose a pressure on said attaching section, and accordingly the butt of the superjacent panel, holding the same inward with respect to said panel and in horizontal alignment therewith.

19. In a siding construction adapted to be nailed or otherwise secured to a wall surface, a linearly extending panel including a body section and an attaching section overlying said body section, a like superjacent panel secured by said attaching section, said attaching section comprising a portion extending outwardly from said body section and downwardly, and having a portion therebelow connecting with the body portion of said superjacent panel, said attaching section having linearly spaced openings therein near the upper end thereof and said body section having similarly spaced transversely aligned openings spaced downward of said openings to pass a nail inserted at a downwardly inclined angle through said first mentioned openings, and a substantially transversely extending spacer portion formed in said attaching section limiting the distance the pressure exerted by nails driven through said openings into the wall surface can move the lower end of said attaching section inwardly and thereby positioning the superjacent panel.

20. In a siding construction adapted to be nailed or otherwise secured to a Wall surface, a panel comprising a body section, and an attaching section outward of the upper edge of the body section and overlying the said edge, a superjacent panel, said attaching section securing to the superjacent panel, said attaching section including a nailing section extending downwardly and outwardly from the upper portion of the'body section of the panel at an angle relative thereto and thence including a portion below said nailing section connecting said panel with the butt of the body section of the superjacent panel, said nailing section having openings spaced linearly and said body section of the first panel having openings aligned therewith but downwardly spaced therefrom, nails driven through said openings in the nailing section and body section at a downwardly inclined angle whereby a downward and inward pressure can be exerted by said nails on the lower connecting portion of said attaching section bringing it in toward said body portion of the first panel to position said connecting portion vertically and laterally with respect to the body portion of the first panel and thus position the superjacent panel with respect to the first panel.

21. The combination defined in claim 20 in which said attaching section has a spacer section extending laterally inwardly from said nailing section toward said body portion of the first panel to limit the distance the pressure exerted by nails driven through said openings into the wall surface can move the lower end of said attaching section inwardly.

22. A siding panel construction comprising a linearly extending first strip; an outwardly projecting member pro vided for one edge of said strip, said member including a portion turned reversely relative to said strip and thence inwardly toward said strip to define a passage between said portion and strip; a substantially parallelly disposed, partially overlapping, second strip having a butt section on one edge thereof for accommodating said outwardly projecting member on the first mentioned strip, the butt section including an inwardly turned portion terminating in a flange extending substantially parallel to the first mentioned strip; said flange having a first portion of substantially no greater width than said passage, and a laterally offset terminal portion providing a section of greater width than said passage forcing said inwardly turned portion of the first strip outwardly when the flange is forced into said passage; the said inwardly turned portion of the first strip having a surface opposite said first strip defining said passage of less length than said first portion of said flange to provide an enlarged passage communicating with said first passage of a width to freely receive said section of the flange which is of greater width; the first portion of said flange being of greater length than said surface so that said portion of greater width is received in said enlarged passage and overlies said inwardly turned portion of the first mentioned strip and permits the return of said surface of the inwardly turned portion of the first strip with an audible snap after the said surface of the inwardly turned portion of the first mentioned strip has been forced inwardly by the section of greater width of the flange.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 754,541 Charlebois Mar. 15, 1904 2,173,774 Birch et a1 Sept. 19, 1939 2,178,357 Hoess Oct. 31, 1939 2,178,415 Ansel Oct. 31, 1939 2,377,994 Cocken June 12, 1945 2,739,676 Tomita Mar. 27, 1956 

